From the Vineyards - Labor Day Weekend in Champagne
September 9, 2021
by Jaime Dutton
This year’s Labor Day weekend was not like in the past. Instead of soaking in the sunshine on the last beach days of summer on the Cape, pulling in stripers from the beach, sipping Rosé and eating the all fresh veggies from our summer garden with friends and family, I went to Champagne! I met Daniel in Reims where we spent 3 days at Chef Arnaud Lallement’s L’Assiette Champenoise, visiting our Champenois friends as we gear up for La Fête du Champagne.
Our time was packed with visits, lunches and dinners where we connected with the producers to hear about the summer and the challenges that they faced this past growing season, as well as taste some of the 2016 and 2017 wines. Harvest will begin for most sometime between September 16 - 26 depending on their location, but most are holding out a bit, waiting for the ripening of the fruit on the vines. It is no secret that 2021 is one of the most challenging vintages that many of them have ever faced, likely one of the smallest crops that they will harvest, yet still, we were met with optimism, warmth and smiles.
Upon realizing that we were not going to be able to see all of our Champenois friends in the 3 days we were in Champagne, we decided, with Peter Liem, to host a cocktail gathering on the beautiful terrace of Le Royal Champagne in Champillon overlooking the vineyards at sunset. It was a beautiful evening where we shared amazing magnums of Champagne and friendship. We wanted to toast them and thank the producers for their support and participation in La Fete 2021. As one of the producers kindly told us, it was the type of evening that only La Fête du Champagne knows how to organize.
La Fête du Champagne’s vision from the outset, as created by Peter and Daniel in 2014, is unique in that it strives to bring together and showcase all of Champagne. From all corners of the region, different philosophies and approaches in the vineyards and cellars, the smallest growers and the larger houses. They all fervently believe in what they do, with a drive for quality and passion for excellence.
